How To Clean Brass or Copper without Harsh Chemicals

How To Clean Brass or Copper without Harsh Chemicals

Cleaning brass or copper is a daunting task, especially if you use harsh chemicals. Once the brass or copper is cleaned properly, however, it shines with a mirror-like finish. So much satisfaction is gained when the patina of the respective metals gleams brightly. How do you clean brass or copper without harsh chemicals?

FRESH LEMON AND TABLE SALT

Cut a fresh lemon in half and coat the flesh with table salt. As you’re rubbing the metals surface with the lemon and salt, the acidity of the juice of the lemon combined with the abrasive quality of the salt breaks down the oxidation on the metals surface to create a beautiful luster on the brass or copper.

WHITE VINEGAR AND TABLE SALT

Fill a spray bottle with 1 pint of white vinegar and add 3 tablespoons of table salt. Spray solution liberally on copper or brass. Put it aside and forget it allowing it to set for a while, then simply rub clean. In this application, it is the acidity of the white vinegar coupled with the salinity of the table salt that breaks down the oxidation on the metals surface to create a beautiful luster on the brass or copper.

WHITE VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE, TABLE SALT, AND CORNMEAL

Mix white vinegar or lemon juice, table salt, and corn meal into a paste. The corn meal is a binder that makes the mixture more easily spreadable on the brass or copper. Whereas, the acidic white vinegar or lemon juice combined with the table salt are the active agents to break down the oxidation.

TABLE SALT, ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR, AND WHITE VINEGAR

Combine one teaspoon of table salt, one tablespoon of all-purpose flour and enough vinegar to create a thick paste. Cover the brass or copper with the paste by rubbing it on vigorously. Allow it to dry completely. After washing the brass or copper in warm soapy water, buff it dry with a chamois or clean microfiber cloth.

Note: when polishing and buffing metal, place you clean soft cloth in the clothes dryer or oven to heat it up a bit. Be careful not to make it too hot! Brings wonderful results and helps to make the task far easier.

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